Chelsea Mayer grew up in Huntington Beach, California, and graduated with a degree in film production from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television. After that, she worked in ecotourism throughout southern California, first as a naturalist and photographer aboard various whale watching boats, then as a divemaster in the Channel Islands. In 2022, Chelsea began working as a National Geographic Certified Photography Instructor for National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions, with whom she teaches photography on ships around the world. She is also a partner photographer with Girls Who Click, through whom she mentors young women conservation photographers.